Learn why one ingredient in most food you eat will vanish- and it might save lives too.

After 20,000 U.S. heart attacks this past year from poor diets, the FDA started investigating the cause of the severe health decline.

The FDA announced the plan to ban trans fat in all food products across the nation. The proposal will be available for 60 days and open to the public. Once the 60 days pass, the FDA ban will erase “trans fat” from the safe-consumption list of approved ingredients for all manufacturers and restaurants.

What is Trans Fat?

Vegetable oil is extracted from plant seeds, which becomes the base for trans fat. Vegetable oil turns into trans fat is when hydrogen is added to the vegetable oil, making it more solid (turning the substance into a vegetable fat). Next time, take a look at the ingredient list of your favorite food and find the phrase “hydrogenated oil,” which is what vegetable oil and hydrogen create when combined together.

Regular consumption of the hydrogenated oil ingredient had shown to lead to clogged arteries. This unsafe ingredient may also cause bad cholesterol levels to rise and make our good cholesterol levels lower. We need high levels of good cholesterol because this protects us from heart disease and other heart problems.

The American Heart Association warns us only two grams of trans fat should be consumed each day (at max), but some meals found at fast food chains had over 30 grams of trans fat in one meal.

Common Foods with Trans Fat

Most frozen TV dinners

Beef (contains natural trans fat)

Margarine & shortening

Microwavable breakfast sandwiches

Donuts

Microwavable popcorn

French Fries

Ice cream shakes

Battered anything

Baked pie crusts

Crackers

Dry baking mixes (muffins, pancakes, cakes, waffles, etc.)

Pre-made frostings

Milk substitute creamers (nondairy)

Cookies and other boxed sweets

Canned chili

How Companies & Restaurants Will Deal with the Ban

The trans fat ban will cause all companies to remove hydrogenated oils from their product and the food being served. If a company or business wants to keep using a type of this oil, they will be required to prove, with scientific research, that the oil is safe for the public to eat.

Share your thoughts on whether you plan to throw out food with hydrogenated oils in your kitchen or eat the food anyway.